The New York Yankees have acquired left-handed starting pitcher James Paxton from the Seattle Mariners for three prospects, including lefty Justus Sheffield.
Source: James Paxton has been traded to the New York Yankees.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 19, 2018
The trade was first reported by Jeff Passan at 5:36pm and was confirmed by Mariners beat writers Gregr Johns and Ryan Divish who reported that going to the Mariners was Yankees top prospect Justus Sheffield.
Can confirm …. Hearing M's getting three players, including Justus Sheffield. https://t.co/vFJf8RIn8g
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) November 19, 2018
Can confirm Mariners and Yankees are in process of finalizing a deal that will send James Paxton to NY for three prospects, including top-rated RH Justus Sheffield.
— Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) November 19, 2018
MLB’s Corey Brock had the full trade, naming Dom Thompson-Williams and Erik Swanson as the other two pieces going to Seattle.
Paxton deal to Yankees is for Sheffield, OF Don Thompson-Williams and RHP Erik Swanson.
— Corey Brock (@CoreyBrockMLB) November 19, 2018
Dom Thompson-Williams had a breakout season in 2018 for the Tampa Tarpons. He was the Yankees minor league system’s leader in home runs (22) and Runs Batted In (74). He was also third in the system with 20 stolen bases and fourth in runs scored with 63.
Thompson-Williams is an extremely athletic player with above-average speed and good instincts on the field. This season he has demonstrated good power to all fields and strong contact rates. On the defensive side, he has shown plus range in centerfield with an average arm.
Erik Swanson opened the 2018 season with the Trenton Thunder, his first time in Double-A since his cameo in 2015 for Frisco. He would appear in only eight games, seven starts, for the Thunder amassing a 5-0 record with a microscopic 0.42 ERA in 42 2/3 innings pitched and struck out 55 batters.
On May 21, he was promoted to Triple-A where he would spend the majority of the season. Before going on the disabled list with a groin injury on June 14, Swanson struggled in Triple-A with a 5.11 ERA in 34 2/3 innings over five games. After returning from injury he pitched much better, earning a 2-1 record with a 3.21 ERA in nine games and striking out 49 in 47 2/3 innings pitched.
Despite his struggles in his first Triple-A games with the Yankees, he ended the season with an 8-2 record and a 2.66 ERA in 24 games, 22 starts, and 139 strikeouts in 121 2/3 innings pitched.
